In many countries good and evil superstitions are common to certain birds. The appearance of the wild geese portend a severe winter and the raven is a symbol of evil and bad luck world-wide.

It’s terribly unlucky to kill a cuckoo or destroy it’s eggs because it is rumored to bring good weather.

The wren has been hated by the Irish people since they alerted Cromwell’s army to the presence of the Irish troops by tapping on the drums and waking the English soldiers who killed them all.

As the story goes if ravens come cawing about a house it’s a sure sign of death, for the raven is the devil’s own bird.

Many strange tales are told about the magpie due to it’s adroit cunning and larcenous ways… you certainly wouldn’t want to leave anything shiny laying about or you’ll have to track it down in the magpie’s nest! It’s not thought to be an evil bird but to meet one alone in the morning when starting a journey is considered to be a bad omen. According to an old rhyme to meet more than one magpie is a sign of good fortune:

“One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for marriage, four for a birth.”

The robin is a very sacred bird and is held in the highest esteem by the Irish because it is said to have plucked out the sharpest thorn that pierced Christ’s brow while he was on the cross: and in doing so the breast of the robin was stained red with the blood of Christ.

3 thoughts on “Six Bird Superstitions”

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